. >>> and is this what the fiscal cliff deal has come to? why 81-year-old former senator alan simpson is going gangnam style to get everyone's attention on debt. >> it has officially jumped the shark. >>> alan st. pierre is the executive director for the national,or for the reform of marijuana laws. oregon senator jeff merkley, heidi ewing, and rachel grady will be joining us. steve satich, ohio congressman, steve latourette, and ambassador nick burns are our guests this morning. it's thursday, december 6th, and "starting point" begins right now. >>> welcome, everybody. our starting point this morning, some major developments to tell you about in egypt, after angry protests against political moves by the president, mohamed morsi, have turned deadly. tanks, armored personnel vehicles, all stationed outside the presidential analysis cairo. not only are they guarding the palace, they're also keeping apart supporters and opponents of morsi. hundreds of his islamist supporters already taking to the streets in cairo this morning. opponents are gat